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World News: During King Charles’s recent parliamentary reception in Australia, Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe caused a stir by interrupting the event with fierce anti-colonial rhetoric. Thorpe, known for her outspoken advocacy of Indigenous rights, shouted slogans challenging the monarchy and colonial history before being removed by security. The incident, which quickly went viral, has sparked both condemnation and support across the country.
As King Charles and Queen Camilla visited Australia on a five-day tour, the monarch was addressing members of Parliament in the Great Hall of Canberra’s Parliament House. Just as the King concluded his speech, Senator Lidia Thorpe, an Indigenous politician from Victoria, rose from her seat and approached the royal entourage, shouting: "You are not my king. You committed genocide against our people. Give us our land back."
Despite efforts from security personnel to remove her from the hall, Thorpe continued her protest, chanting, “This is not your land. You are a genocidalist. We want a treaty.” Thorpe, draped in a fur cloak, has a history of taking bold stances against the monarchy, and her actions reignited discussions about Australia's colonial legacy.
Reactions to Thorpe’s outburst have been divided. Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott criticized the act, labeling it “unfortunate political exhibitionism.” Meanwhile, Australian businessman Dick Smith commended the country’s democracy, noting that Thorpe’s actions wouldn’t land her in jail. This is not the first time Thorpe has made headlines with her opposition to the monarchy, following a similar display in 2022 when she altered her pledge of allegiance to Queen Elizabeth II.